1
A cool draft of air blows through the vents in the room. It sends a cold shiver down my bones. The hairs on my arm stand up because of the cold or is it a nagging feeling? The nagging feeling something isn't quite right. The feeling that Ms. Tolbin, the school guidance counsellor/counsellor, should be helping the Grades twelves get into college and not bother herself with meeting me.
Her office is... small. It is a quarter the size of a classroom. She has a large oak desk with papers piled high all over it. Some of the papers are clipped together, others are tucked away in folders, and the rest are loose lonely papers. Ms. Tolbin has two metal filing cabinets that reach up to my shoulder. There are four drawers and all of them have a lock keeping them shut. She also has a small cactus in a little green pot on her window sill. The window looks out to see the parking lot of the school. The parking lot where a few kids are currently fist fighting in.
I sit in the uncomfortable plastic chair across from Ms. Tolbin's desk. The other chair sits beside me completely disregarded. Hard plastic digs into my spine and I can feel a small bruise forming. The chair Ms. Tolbin sits in is fake leather. The black material is not stiff enough to classify as leather. There are at least layers of patting underneath the leather. It should save her posture for years to come and keep her from slouching until she is in her 80s.
Ms. Tolbin is a fairly tall and thin person. She looks more like a stick than a functioning human being. She looms over most of the students here with her 6-foot build. I have to look up at her a little since she is four inches taller than me. She is huge compared to the rest of the staff. Most of the other staff members have short and stock builds.
Ms. Tolbin has her hair braided back into a bun. Her skin is clear from acne. Her dark skin seems to... glow in the room's lighting. Her teeth are extremely white and straight in her mouth. It is quite obvious and is the second thing you notice about her after her size. She has perfect teeth. The straightest and best sizing of teeth ever. Her dentist must be very proud of her.
"So, Lucy," Ms. Tolbin starts all of a sudden from her comfy chair, "tell me about yourself." She leans back. Her chair leans all the way back and becomes dangerously close to falling backwards.
I shrug. Truth be told I find this whole event entirely wasteful. Of course, I am polite when I repeat my inner thoughts out loud, "I would love to talk about myself, Ms. Tolbin. In fact, I could write a book about myself," I let out an inane giggle, "Except shouldn't you be focusing your efforts on the students who need help with college? You know, making sure all their preparations are done and dealt with?" I put on my extremely sweet face, "I would hate to monopolize your time." Please let me leave this room. This is a waste of both our times.
Ms. Tolbin nods slowly, "While I appreciate the concern for your fellow students you are not monopolizing my time." She enunciates each of her words, "I have organized my schedule just so I could meet with you here today." She smiles at me and pulls out an orange folder from a stack of papers on her desk. "Let's see," she flips open her folder, "Your teachers say you are very bright, Lucy."
I nod at her. "I do my work as best as I can. It can be difficult juggling cheerleading with my school work, but I manage." I move to stand up, "If that is all you wanted to talk about I will be leaving."
"No," Ms. Tolbin barks out frustrated. "You will sit in that chair until our time is done. Now sit back down." I fall back into the uncomfortable chair. "Now," Ms. Tolbin pulls out a report from her orange folder and starts reading it out loud, "Lucy shows an in-depth intellectual standing within my class. Yet, I worry if she is being properly stimulated as she seems to know everything before I even teach her. It would be sufficient to say she could skip a grade and not miss anything. I feel it would be in her best interest in finding something to challenge her whether it be in the classroom or an extracurricular." Ms. Tolbin sets down the report and looks at me expectantly.
What does she want me to say? Exasperation fills me. "I am good in that class, what can I say?" This is wasting time I could spend with my friends. Not that I have many. Or any. Just Sammy. Sammy who I have not yet finished questioning on her night with Eric.
Ms. Tolbin looks at me with disappointment. "That would be okay if that was the case, except your other teachers have also made similar comments." She pulls out another paper from the orange folder. "Miss Lucy has shown an in-depth knowledge from this course and I fear there is nothing left for me to teach. I feel it would be beneficial for her if we were to grade her terms now and set her free for the summer. When the next year starts we can consider placing her in more AP classes if available."
I shrug at Ms. Tolbin. "They just want to give me an extra long summer. Isn't that sweet of them? I don't know many teachers who would consider that a viable option."
Ms. Tolbin nods slowly, "Except they commented that you should be placed in more AP classes. What I find challenging as your guidance counsellor is that there are no AP classes that you are not currently in." Ms. Tolbin pulls out a little brochure and places it on her desk. "I feel it would benefit you to be placed in a Summer Camp. You can even take classes there next year if you would like. I feel it would stimulate your learning properly."
I take the colourful brochure and hold it in my hand. "Camp Bull Horn?" The picture on the front is a red crest with a gold bull in the middle of it.
"Yes, I have emailed a copy of it to your parents. Isn't that wonderful?" Ms. Tolbin has a devilish smile carved into her face. She looks evil with that kind of ridiculous expression on her face. She should be more proper and professional in her workplace. Unless this is a personal vendetta that she is sorting out.
A force a smile onto my face. "How wonderful," I lie through my teeth. I must find that email and delete it before my parents ever receive it. They must never know.
Ms. Tolbin smiles at me. "I think it will be especially good for a student of your calibre. It should challenge you both intellectually and physically. You know they do have a training camp to keep up your fitness." She stands up and walks around her large desk. "I can't wait to hear about your experience there. I have heard many good things from the students that attend both Camp Bull Horn and the school." Ms. Tolbin opens her door. "I do work there part-time during the summer, I hope to see you there." Ms. Tolbin pretends to check her watch. "I must be seeing my grade twelve students, there are pressing matters that need my attention. Please do see yourself out."
I stand up and numbly leave her room with only one coherent thought in my head. I must make sure my parents never find that email.
